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The tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 41-24569) nicknamed "Memphis Tot" of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, shot down near Zwolle. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124569. Memphis Tot. SD. 4/2/43. 427BS. Near Zwolle.'
B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot: [GN:V] was assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-W] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42.
Missing in Action 4-Feb-43 The primary target was to be the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, secondary target was to be the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, and the the port area of Emden, Germany was the target of last resort. Hamm and Osnabruck were obscured by clouds, so Emden was attacked. The aircraft sustained severe damage from enemy fighters and crash-landed in the Waddenzee, five miles north-east of Den Helder, Holland. 3KIA 7POW 1DIC MACR 15348.
Participated in the following 9 Operations (4 were aborted):
(See Biography events for crew information)
22-Nov-42 Mission #1 - U-Boat pens at Lorient, France - Aborted.
6-Dec-42 Mission #2 - Carriage and wagon works at Lille, France - Aborted.
12-Dec-42 Mission #3 - Railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France.
20-Dec-42 Mission #4 - German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France.
30-Dec-42 Mission #5 - U-Boat pens at Lorient, France.
13-Jan-43 Mission #6 - Lille Fives Losomotive Works, Lille, France.
23-Jan-43 Mission #7 - U-Boat pens at Lorient, France - Aborted.
2-Feb-43 Mission #8 - Railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany.
4-Feb-43 Mission #9 LAST OPERATION - Industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany
Service
Units
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Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
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People
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Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner to 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with the rank of Sergeant. 303BG personnel record does not indicate that he was assigned to any particular crew at that time and does not indicate when he arrived at...
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Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Jul-42 Assigned as the Tail Gunner of B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Arrived in the UK with the crew of 41-24619 aboard B-17F #42-2966, 303BG/427BS on 28-Oct-43. B-17F #41-24619 was...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigend to B-17F 41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth...
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Military | Captain | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigend to B-17F 41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as Tail Gunner of B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigend to B-17F #41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth,...
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Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as Pilot of B-17 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Pilot of 41-24569 [GN-V] "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Aerial Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner of B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigned to B-17F #41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at...
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Military | Captain | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
2-Aug-42 Assigned as a Bombardier on B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar" at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for-Sugar" but there is no record that he flew any missions with that aircraft. 303BG Mission Report...
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Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigend to B-17F 41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Show more
Missions
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22 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from...
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6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
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12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
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20 December 1942
The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.
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30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
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13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
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23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
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2 February 1943
All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...
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4 February 1943
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are again designated as the primary target for this mission follwing the abortive attempt of 2-Feb-43. However, weather and extreme cold frustrate this operation also. The main attacking force consists of 65 B-17s...
Places
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Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Assigned |
Bangor, ME, USA |
5 October 1942 |
Assigned to 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine.
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Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK |
22 October 1942 |
Aircraft arrived at Molesworth, UK. The original crew that flew the aircraft to the UK was:
P CPT Lloyd R. Cole; CP 2LT Robert N. McCune
N 2LT Robert P. Driggs; B 2LT Edward N. Bryant
E/TTG SSGT Bliss D. Purinton; RO SSGT Dale F. Brandfas
BTG SGT Arch Witte, Jr.; WG SSGT Alarence S. Coomes
TG SGT Philip J. Callery; Operations Officer CPT Edgar E. Snyder
This crew had originally been assigned on 1-May-42 to B-17F 41-24629 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/247BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.
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Mission #1, B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted |
Lorient, France |
22 November 1942 |
Crew 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS
P CPT Lloyd R. Cole (RTB); CP 2LT Robert N. McCune (RTB)
N 2LT Charles R. Grice (RTB); B Not carried
E/TTG SSGT Bliss D. Purinton (RTB); RO SSGT Dale F. Brandfas (RTB)
BTG SSGT Arch Witte, Jr. (RTB); LWG SSGT Clarence S. Coomes (RTB)
RWG SGT Merel D. Bradley (RTB); TG SGT Philip J. Callery (RTB)
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Mission #2, 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted |
Lille, France |
6 December 1942 |
Crew 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS
Command P LTC George L. Robinson (RTB); P CPT Lloyd R. Cole (RTB)
CP 2LT Robert N. McCune (RTB); N 2LT Robert P. Driggs (RTB)
Command N 1LT Samuel H. Anderson (RTB); B 2LT Edward N. Bryant (RTB)
E/TTG SSGT Bliss D. Purinton (RTB); RO SSGT Dale F. Brandfas (RTB)
BTG SSGT Arch Witte, Jr. (RTB); LWG SGT James R. Van Etten (RTB)
RWG SGT Edward T. Levering (RTB); TG SGT Philip J. Callery (RTB)
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Mission #3, 41-24569, 303BG/427BS |
Rouen, France |
12 December 1942 |
Crew 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS
Command P LTC George L. Robinson (RTB); CP CPT Lloyd R. Cole (RTB)
N 2LT Robert P. Driggs (RTB); B 2LT Albert W. Diffenbach (RTB)
E/TTG SSGT Bliss D. Purinton (RTB); RO SSGT Dale F. Brandfas (RTB)
BTG SSGT Arch Witte, Jr., (RTB); LWG SGT James R. Van Etten (RTB)
RWG SSGT Clarence S. Coomes (RTB); TG SGT Philip J. Callery (RTB)
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Mission #4, 41-24569, 303BG/427BS |
Romilly-sur-Seine, France |
20 December 1942 |
Crew 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS
P CPT Lloyd R. Cole (RTB); CP 2LT Robert N. McCune (RTB)
N 2LT Robert P Driggs (RTB); B 2LT Edward N. Bryant (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Lucian W. Means, Jr., (RTB); RO SSGT Dale F. Brandfas (RTB)
BTG SGT Jack Belk (RTB); LWG SGT James R. Van Etten (RTB)
RWG SSGT Clarence S. Coomes (RTB); TG SGT Philip J. Calley (RTB)
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Mission #5, 41-24569, 303BG/427BS |
Lorient, France |
30 December 1942 |
Crew 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS.
P MAJ Charles C. Sheridan (RTB); CP CPT Glenn E. Hagenbuch (RTB)
N 2LT Walter M. Soha (RTB); B 2LT Roy R. Moser (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Charles E. Zipfel (RTB); RO SSGT Gordon D. Miller (RTB)
BTG SGT Edward T. Levering (RTB); LWG SGT Edward Z. Harmon (RTB)
RWG SGT James L. Pennington (RTB); TG SGT George W. Henderson (RTB)
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Mission #6, 41-24569, 303BG/427BS |
Lille, France |
13 January 1943 |
Crew 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS.
P CPT Lloyd R. Cole (RTB); CP 2LT Robert N. McCune (RTB)
N 2LT Robert P. Driggs (RTB); B 1LT Lyle D. Sherwood (RTB)
E/TTG SSGT Bliss D. Purinton (RTB); RO SSGT Dale F. Brandfas (RTB)
BTG SSGT Arch Witte, Jr. (RTB); LWG SSGT Clarence S. Coomes (RTB)
RWG SGT Phillip J. Callery (RTB); TG SGT James R Van Etten (RTB)
N CPT Glenn E. Hagenbuch (RTB); B 1LT Lyle C. Sherwood (RTB)
E/TTG 2LT Edward N. Bryant (RTB); RO SSGT Gordon D. Miller (RTB)
BTG SSGT Dale F. Brandfas (RTB); LWG SGT James L. Pennington (RTB)
RWG SGT Edward T. Levering (RTB); TG SGT Jack Belk (RTB)
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Mission #7, 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted |
Lorient, France |
23 January 1943 |
Crew 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS.
P CPT Lloyd R. Cole (RTB); CP 2LT Robert N. McCune (RTB)
N 2LT Robert P. Driggs (RTB); B 2LT Edward N. Bryant (RTB)
E/TTG SSGT Bliss D. Purinton (RTB); RO SSGT Dale F. Brandfas (RTB)
BTG SSGT Arch Witte, Jr. (RTB); LWG SGT Phillip Callery (RTB)
RWG SSGT Clarence S. Coomes (RTB); TG SGT James R. Van Etten (RTB)
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Mission #8, 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted |
Hamm, Germany |
2 February 1943 |
Crew 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS.
P CPT Lloyd R. Cole (RTB); CP 2LT Robert N. McCune (RTB)
N 2LT Robert P. Driggs (RTB); B 2LT Edward N. Bryant (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Bliss D. Purinton (RTB); RO TSGT Gordon D. Miller (RTB)
BTG SSGT Arch Witte, Jr. (RTB); LWG SSGT Clarence S. Coomes (RTB)
RWG SGT Phillip Callery (RTB); TG SGT Bernard Jurosek (RTB)
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Failed to Return (FTR) |
Waddenzee |
4 February 1943 |
Sustained damage from fighter attacks and crash-landed in the Waddenzee, five miles north-east of Den Helder, Holland.
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Mission #9, 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - FTR |
Osnabrück, Germany |
4 February 1943 |
Crew 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS.
P CPT Lloyd Cole (DOW-DIC); CP 2LT Robert N. McCune (KIA)
N 1LT Robert P. Driggs (POW); B CPT Edward N. Bryant (POW)
E/TTG SSGT Bliss D. Purinton (POW); RO TSGT Gordon D. Miller (POW)
BTG SSGT Arch Witte, Jr., (POW); LWG SSGT James L. Pennington (KIA)
RWG SGT James R. Van Etten (KIA); TG SSGT Phillip J. Callery (POW)
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